Top 10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds

1. Cut down on the amount of carbs that you eat.

Eat less bread and pasta and you WILL lose weight. A single slice of white bread has 100 calories. One four and a half ounce serving of plain pasta (without sauce) can have as many as 369 calories.

2. Write down your goals and look at them often.

Set a deadline to lose the weight and write it down. For example, 'By Jan 10, I will weigh 185 lbs or less'. Put it in a location where you can see it every day.

3. Stop drinking soda and other sweetened drinks.

One can of soda can have up to 100 calories and 27g of carbs. Unfortunately, most soda drinkers will drink four or five sodas a day, not just one. This amounts to 500 empty calories that are keeping you bulked up. Most people will see immediate weight loss by just replacing their daily soda habit with water. Try it, you might even like it.

4. Avoid fried foods.

Stop eating fried foods and use the grill along with plenty of spices. Spices tend to speed up your metabolism. And who knows, you may even enjoy your food more. A single serving of fried chicken breast has 370 calories versus 211 calories for a grilled breast.

5. Don't even buy that junk food!

Keeping junk food in your home is just an added temptation. If you don’t but it, you won’t eat it. So, the next time you go grocery shopping, skip that aisle.

6. Eat a good breakfast.

Consume most of your calories early in the day and always eat breakfast. Eating a good breakfast will speed up your metabolism and make it easier to lose weight.

7. Use a smaller plate.

Trick yourself into believing that you are eating more by using a smaller plate. Believe it or not, this trick works.

8. Drink lots of water.

Drink water whenever you are feeling hungry. Also, have an eight ounce glass of water one half hour before each meal.

9. Eat five or six smaller meals a day.

Eating more frequently will increase your metabolism, prevent you from getting hungry, and help you lose weight faster and easier.

10. Start some sort of exercise program.

One of the primary reasons that people are over weight is the lack of exercise. Try getting some exercise each day. You can easily do this by making a few minor changes; park a block from work and walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. And consider doing exercises that you can do while sitting or watching TV. If you work in an office, do leg lifts while at your desk. If you have a dog, take it out for long walks every day. (It will be healthier for both of you.)